Lalitha Sahasranamam 124 - 128

Monday, August 24, 2009

Śarvāṇī शर्वाणी (124)

Śiva has eight cosmic forms that correspond to the five basic elements (akāś, air, fire, water and earth), soul, sun and moon (Liṅga Purāṇa I.28.15-17). Bhīma form is akāś, Ugra-wind, Rudra-fire, Bhava-water, Śarva-earth, Paśupatī-soul, Īśāna-sun and Mahādeva-moon. Śarva form of Śiva represents water element and Śarva’s wife is Śarvānī. Their son is Mars, one of the nine planets referred in astrology.

{Further reading on planetary propitiation: For performing remedies for the afflicted planets, one has to thoroughly study the afflicted planet/s and perform propitiation accordingly. The ill effects of the planets will not be totally eradicated by merely performing rituals or visiting certain specified temples. The day and time of the propitiating ritual to be performed is to be fixed taking into account the star lord and its sub lord. For example, in a horoscope planet Mars is afflicted, performing remedies on a Tuesday may not be correct. The appropriate day would be the day connected to the star lord or sub lord of planet Mars. Poor feeding and animal feeding are very important in eradicating the evil effects of a planet. The ideal thing would be to go to orphanages and feed them personally. Satiated hunger expressed in their faces is capable of eradicating any type of planetary afflictions. Mantra japa is another useful way to ward off the evil effects of planets. Planetary propitiation should be done in person and not through someone else. Planets are incapable of causing any afflictions to those who repose unshakable faith in God}

Śarmadāyinī शर्मदायिनी (125)

Śarma means happiness. She confers happiness on Her devotees. Conferring happiness is Her habit as She is the Divine Mother.

Please refer nāma-s 192, 953 and 968 which convey the same meaning.

Śāṃkarī शांकरी (126)

Wife of Śaṇkarā, a form of Śiva, is known as Śāṃkarī. Śam means happiness and karā means doer. Therefore Śaṇkarā is known to give happiness and his wife Śāṇakarī has the same quality. Śiva and Śaktī do not have any difference in qualities between them. That is why Śiva and Pārvatī are said to be father and mother of the universe.

Śrīkarī श्रीकरी (127)

Śrī means all types of prosperity. It also means wealth, happiness, beauty, attraction, auspiciousness, etc. Since She is the embodiment of all these qualities and also endows these qualities on Her devotees, She is known as Śrīkarī. Viṣṇu Sahasranāma 611 is Śrīkarā which means the giver of wealth to His devotees. In fact, there is no difference between Viṣṇu and Lalitāmbikā. Viṣṇu is also known for auspiciousness etc. There is brother- sister relationship and Viṣṇu is elder to Lalitāmbikā. Other nāma-s in this Lalitā Sahasranāma confirm this. They are 267. Govindarūpinī, 298. Nārāyanī, 893. Viṣṇu-rūpinī, etc. Śrīkarā’s sister is Śrīkarī.

Sādhvī साध्वी (128)

She is chaste (please refer nāma 709). When someone has huge wealth he is called Lakṣmī pati, meaning husband of Lakṣmī, Śrī Mahā Viṣṇu. Pati is generally used to refer husband of a woman. In ancient Sanskrit pati was used to mean a good sign, good fortune, prosperity, success, happiness Lakṣmī resides in the chest of Viśnu. Lalitāmbikā and Śiva are attached to each other so deeply, the one without the other cannot even carry out their duties.

Saundarya Laharī (verse 96) explains this nāma. “Oh! Foremost among the chaste! How many are the poets who do not court Brahma’s wife (meaning knowledge). Who does not become the lord of Lakṣmī with only some riches? But, except Śiva nobody can attain you.” The interpreters intend to say that nobody can claim Lalitāmbikā like other Gods and Goddesses as She is beyond comparison with them. The problem in the interpretation arises with the Sanskrit word ‘pati’ which generally means husband. But there are other meanings for this word such as master, lord, owner, possessor etc. Therefore pati in this context does not mean husband but refers to a person who owns wealth or who has knowledge and wisdom, or who has mastered the art of speech. This verse is a poetic parlance.

Lalitāmbikā is called as chaste because, She always remains with Śiva. She considers Śiva as pati deva which means a wife who regards her husband as divine. This is the right explanation for this nāma as She was created by Śiva and therefore She considers Śiva as Her divine husband. ‘Pati vedanaḥ’ means Śiva. Vedanaḥ means perception or knowledge and pati vedanaḥ means possessor of knowledge.